Ventura County Star: Team with more drama than 'Dallas' is coming to Oxnard
By Rhiannon Potkey
Excessive wealth. Steamy romances. Arrest warrants. Power struggles.
Everyone thought the soap opera ended in Dallas once the Ewing family departed prime-time television.
But the Dallas Cowboys have brought the drama back to the Lone Star State with enough plot lines to fill the sports pages and the tabloids.
The National Football League's media magnets will be available for live viewing in Oxnard beginning Friday as the Cowboys report to training camp at the River Ridge fields.
After a one-year absence from Ventura County, the Cowboys march back with familiar characters in starring roles and a few new cast members
with rap sheets as long as their stat sheets.
"It really is like this bizarre reality TV show," said Mac Engel, the Cowboys beat writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper. "That is what sports are, sort of reality TV. But a lot are boring. This one is not boring at all. It's part paparazzi, part football all over the place."
Fittingly, HBO will have its cameras rolling during Cowboys camp to capture footage for its reality documentary series "Hard Knocks."
It's the second time in the show's four-year run that the Cowboys will be featured, and it's no surprise.
Like the New York Yankees in baseball and Los Angeles Lakers in basketball, the Cowboys operate under a microscope, with every movement dissected and analyzed.
But even by Cowboy standards, the past few months have been a bit surreal.
Whether it's Tony Romo's Hollywood love life, Terrell Owens' drug-testing schedule or the latest court appearance by Adam "Pacman" Jones, rarely a day passed without news out of Valley Ranch.
Covering the Cowboys means being well-versed in jurisprudence, pop culture and celebrity gossip to accompany the sports knowledge.
Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News paper finds himself regularly checking TMZ.com and scanning the headlines of Us Weekly while in line at the grocery store.
"Even when you are off, you are not off, because you never know when something is going to pop up," Archer said. "But I would much rather have it this way than cover a team nobody cared about."
If you haven't been a faithful Cowboy watcher lately, don't worry. As is true with every soap opera, it takes only a few minutes to catch up on the major plot lines, with some episode highlights provided below for help.
As Owens famously said when first joining the 'Boys, "Get your popcorn ready because it's going to be a show."
Romo's evolving romance
Being the quarterback of the Cowboys brings a high level of scrutiny and fame. But it's nothing compared to dating Jessica Simpson. Tony Romo's relationship with the pop singer/actress has elevated him to celebrity status worthy of paparazzi chasing. The couple's on-again, off-again romance — they were on again as of last week — has become daily tabloid fodder and presented a quandary for Cowboys fans. Romo took some heat last year when he escaped to Mexico with Simpson the week before the Cowboys lost to the New York Giants in the playoffs. After a rumored offseason breakup, the couple seem to have mended fences, with Romo even leaving a golf event midround to drive Simpson to the airport.
Being in Oxnard should save Romo some flying time to visit his sweetheart. The couple have been spotted at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas, and Romo recently serenaded Simpson with "Sweet Child O' Mine" on her birthday at a Hollywood club.
Arrested development
If Adam "Pacman" Jones has as many interceptions as past brushes with the law, his arrival could be a windfall. In a highly questioned trade, the Cowboys acquired Jones from the Tennessee Titans in April.
The talented cornerback arrived in Dallas with plenty of baggage. He was suspended from the NFL in 2007 after an accumulation of arrests and legal problems. Commissioner Roger Goodell has granted Jones partial reinstatement for workouts, but the team won't know if he can suit up for the season until later this summer.
Jones has been arrested six times and been involved in 12 incidents requiring police intervention since being drafted in 2005. The most notorious came during NBA All-Star weekend in Las Vegas in 2007, when a fight and shooting occurred at a strip club. Police said Jones incited the melee that left one man paralyzed.
On top of it all, Jones' home in Tennessee is in foreclosure. But Jones is trying to clean up his image in Dallas. He decided to drop the "Pacman" nickname and be called by his given name, Adam, or just Mr. Jones.
This Tank is armed
Before Pacman, there was Tank.
Tank Johnson was waived by the Chicago Bears because of legal troubles stemming from a fascination with firearms. But that didn't prevent the Cowboys from signing the nose tackle last season.
When police raided Johnson's house in 2005, they found three handguns, three rifles and more than 500 rounds of ammunition. He served a two-month jail term for violating probation on a gun charge following Chicago's appearance in the Super Bowl.
Johnson could play only half of last season for the Cowboys after serving an eight-game, league-imposed suspension. But he has been a model citizen by most accounts, and the Cowboys would like him to provide an example for Jones. The two have lockers side by side.
New sheriff in camp
Bye bye, Bill. Welcome, Wade.
Bill Parcells is no longer in charge of the Cowboys. The "Big Tuna" is swimming with the Dolphins. He is now Miami's director of football operations, and he took a decent chunk of the Cowboys staff with him.
Wade Phillips was hired to replace Parcells before last season, and the 61-year-old Texas native is a sharp contrast to his predecessor. Phillips possesses a looser approach and lighter touch.
Although he won't be frequenting Rodeo Drive to shop, Phillips did sport Prada sunglasses that were a gift from his wife and daughter. He may need them to avoid looking over his shoulder. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made Jason Garrett the highest-paid assistant coach in the league, and most believe
Garrett is Wade's successor in waiting.
Welcome back to T.O.'s world
He might have a bigger supporting cast, but Terrell Owens is still the main character. There is never a dull moment in the life of this wide receiver.
Who can forget the sit-ups in the driveway, the Sharpie in the sock, the Tour de France impression or the risque skit with a Desperate Housewife?
T.O. recently missed an NFL-required test for performance-enhancing drugs, claiming it was just a missed phone call. But he has been placed in the league's "random cause" testing program and is subject to increased testing. It was not the first drug-related episode for Owens. Two years ago, police initially thought he had attempted suicide by overdosing on prescription medication but later classified it as accidental.
T.O., recently spotted at the "Hancock" movie premiere with model Serinda Swan, just received a $27 million, three-year extension and $7 million bonus from the Cowboys, ensuring his act will remain in Dallas for a while longer.
Religious experience
The Cowboys' locker room must feel mighty small to Roy Williams. The cornerback has been taking it from all corners.
First, Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis told a radio show that Williams doesn't fit well in the defense and was isolating himself from teammates by not working out with the 'Boys. Then, cornerback Terence Newman described Williams as having a "deer-in-the-headlights type of reaction" while playing last season. Williams said he was "shocked" and "blindsided" by the criticism and considers this a "put up or shut up" season. At least he has faith in himself. "Ever since I rededicated my life to Christ is when I started catching all this hell. I know a breakthrough is coming, and I know God has something in store for me," he told the Star-Telegram.
Unhappy campers
A little camp counseling might be needed for Ellis and wide receiver Terry Glenn. The pair were already causing a stir during organized team activities.
Glenn has refused to sign an injury waiver for his bum knee (two surgeries last season) and missed all offseason mandatory and voluntary field practices. And talk about conflicted. He asked to be released, then changed his mind, fired his agent and rehired him.
Ellis isn't resting easy about resting. The Cowboys wanted the 33-year-old outside linebacker to get some time off in practice and give extra repetitions to second-year player Anthony Spencer. But Ellis wasn't having any of it, fearing a potential takeover by Spencer.
Road to redemption
Defensive end Marcus Dixon might not make the team, but don't count him out after all he's gone through just to get here.
As an 18-year-old high school student, Dixon was charged with the rape of a 15-year-old girl. Dixon said the sex was consensual and was later acquitted of the rape charge. But he spent 18 months in prison for other charges that were eventually found to be levied unfairly. When he emerged from his prison cell, he was greeted by cheers and applause.
Dixon's story caught the attention of daytime talk queen Oprah Winfrey, and he appeared on her show. The Hampton University graduate signed a free-agent contract with the Cowboys after the draft.
Mr. Moneybags
Nobody can accuse Jerry Jones of not putting his money where his heart is. The Cowboys' outspoken owner opened his wallet this offseason, doling out tens of millions of dollars in contracts and providing five Pro Bowlers with $58.9 million in signing bonuses. But the savvy businessman fully expects to get a return on his investment by having the Cowboys end their 11-year playoff victory drought.
It's not like the franchise, however, is hurting for income. The Cowboys are the country's most valuable sports franchise at $1.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine. They are in the process of building a $1 billion stadium in Arlington.
Excessive wealth. Steamy romances. Arrest warrants. Power struggles.
Everyone thought the soap opera ended in Dallas once the Ewing family departed prime-time television.
But the Dallas Cowboys have brought the drama back to the Lone Star State with enough plot lines to fill the sports pages and the tabloids.
The National Football League's media magnets will be available for live viewing in Oxnard beginning Friday as the Cowboys report to training camp at the River Ridge fields.
After a one-year absence from Ventura County, the Cowboys march back with familiar characters in starring roles and a few new cast members
with rap sheets as long as their stat sheets.
"It really is like this bizarre reality TV show," said Mac Engel, the Cowboys beat writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper. "That is what sports are, sort of reality TV. But a lot are boring. This one is not boring at all. It's part paparazzi, part football all over the place."
Fittingly, HBO will have its cameras rolling during Cowboys camp to capture footage for its reality documentary series "Hard Knocks."
It's the second time in the show's four-year run that the Cowboys will be featured, and it's no surprise.
Like the New York Yankees in baseball and Los Angeles Lakers in basketball, the Cowboys operate under a microscope, with every movement dissected and analyzed.
But even by Cowboy standards, the past few months have been a bit surreal.
Whether it's Tony Romo's Hollywood love life, Terrell Owens' drug-testing schedule or the latest court appearance by Adam "Pacman" Jones, rarely a day passed without news out of Valley Ranch.
Covering the Cowboys means being well-versed in jurisprudence, pop culture and celebrity gossip to accompany the sports knowledge.
Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News paper finds himself regularly checking TMZ.com and scanning the headlines of Us Weekly while in line at the grocery store.
"Even when you are off, you are not off, because you never know when something is going to pop up," Archer said. "But I would much rather have it this way than cover a team nobody cared about."
If you haven't been a faithful Cowboy watcher lately, don't worry. As is true with every soap opera, it takes only a few minutes to catch up on the major plot lines, with some episode highlights provided below for help.
As Owens famously said when first joining the 'Boys, "Get your popcorn ready because it's going to be a show."
Romo's evolving romance
Being the quarterback of the Cowboys brings a high level of scrutiny and fame. But it's nothing compared to dating Jessica Simpson. Tony Romo's relationship with the pop singer/actress has elevated him to celebrity status worthy of paparazzi chasing. The couple's on-again, off-again romance — they were on again as of last week — has become daily tabloid fodder and presented a quandary for Cowboys fans. Romo took some heat last year when he escaped to Mexico with Simpson the week before the Cowboys lost to the New York Giants in the playoffs. After a rumored offseason breakup, the couple seem to have mended fences, with Romo even leaving a golf event midround to drive Simpson to the airport.
Being in Oxnard should save Romo some flying time to visit his sweetheart. The couple have been spotted at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas, and Romo recently serenaded Simpson with "Sweet Child O' Mine" on her birthday at a Hollywood club.
Arrested development
If Adam "Pacman" Jones has as many interceptions as past brushes with the law, his arrival could be a windfall. In a highly questioned trade, the Cowboys acquired Jones from the Tennessee Titans in April.
The talented cornerback arrived in Dallas with plenty of baggage. He was suspended from the NFL in 2007 after an accumulation of arrests and legal problems. Commissioner Roger Goodell has granted Jones partial reinstatement for workouts, but the team won't know if he can suit up for the season until later this summer.
Jones has been arrested six times and been involved in 12 incidents requiring police intervention since being drafted in 2005. The most notorious came during NBA All-Star weekend in Las Vegas in 2007, when a fight and shooting occurred at a strip club. Police said Jones incited the melee that left one man paralyzed.
On top of it all, Jones' home in Tennessee is in foreclosure. But Jones is trying to clean up his image in Dallas. He decided to drop the "Pacman" nickname and be called by his given name, Adam, or just Mr. Jones.
This Tank is armed
Before Pacman, there was Tank.
Tank Johnson was waived by the Chicago Bears because of legal troubles stemming from a fascination with firearms. But that didn't prevent the Cowboys from signing the nose tackle last season.
When police raided Johnson's house in 2005, they found three handguns, three rifles and more than 500 rounds of ammunition. He served a two-month jail term for violating probation on a gun charge following Chicago's appearance in the Super Bowl.
Johnson could play only half of last season for the Cowboys after serving an eight-game, league-imposed suspension. But he has been a model citizen by most accounts, and the Cowboys would like him to provide an example for Jones. The two have lockers side by side.
New sheriff in camp
Bye bye, Bill. Welcome, Wade.
Bill Parcells is no longer in charge of the Cowboys. The "Big Tuna" is swimming with the Dolphins. He is now Miami's director of football operations, and he took a decent chunk of the Cowboys staff with him.
Wade Phillips was hired to replace Parcells before last season, and the 61-year-old Texas native is a sharp contrast to his predecessor. Phillips possesses a looser approach and lighter touch.
Although he won't be frequenting Rodeo Drive to shop, Phillips did sport Prada sunglasses that were a gift from his wife and daughter. He may need them to avoid looking over his shoulder. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made Jason Garrett the highest-paid assistant coach in the league, and most believe
Garrett is Wade's successor in waiting.
Welcome back to T.O.'s world
He might have a bigger supporting cast, but Terrell Owens is still the main character. There is never a dull moment in the life of this wide receiver.
Who can forget the sit-ups in the driveway, the Sharpie in the sock, the Tour de France impression or the risque skit with a Desperate Housewife?
T.O. recently missed an NFL-required test for performance-enhancing drugs, claiming it was just a missed phone call. But he has been placed in the league's "random cause" testing program and is subject to increased testing. It was not the first drug-related episode for Owens. Two years ago, police initially thought he had attempted suicide by overdosing on prescription medication but later classified it as accidental.
T.O., recently spotted at the "Hancock" movie premiere with model Serinda Swan, just received a $27 million, three-year extension and $7 million bonus from the Cowboys, ensuring his act will remain in Dallas for a while longer.
Religious experience
The Cowboys' locker room must feel mighty small to Roy Williams. The cornerback has been taking it from all corners.
First, Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis told a radio show that Williams doesn't fit well in the defense and was isolating himself from teammates by not working out with the 'Boys. Then, cornerback Terence Newman described Williams as having a "deer-in-the-headlights type of reaction" while playing last season. Williams said he was "shocked" and "blindsided" by the criticism and considers this a "put up or shut up" season. At least he has faith in himself. "Ever since I rededicated my life to Christ is when I started catching all this hell. I know a breakthrough is coming, and I know God has something in store for me," he told the Star-Telegram.
Unhappy campers
A little camp counseling might be needed for Ellis and wide receiver Terry Glenn. The pair were already causing a stir during organized team activities.
Glenn has refused to sign an injury waiver for his bum knee (two surgeries last season) and missed all offseason mandatory and voluntary field practices. And talk about conflicted. He asked to be released, then changed his mind, fired his agent and rehired him.
Ellis isn't resting easy about resting. The Cowboys wanted the 33-year-old outside linebacker to get some time off in practice and give extra repetitions to second-year player Anthony Spencer. But Ellis wasn't having any of it, fearing a potential takeover by Spencer.
Road to redemption
Defensive end Marcus Dixon might not make the team, but don't count him out after all he's gone through just to get here.
As an 18-year-old high school student, Dixon was charged with the rape of a 15-year-old girl. Dixon said the sex was consensual and was later acquitted of the rape charge. But he spent 18 months in prison for other charges that were eventually found to be levied unfairly. When he emerged from his prison cell, he was greeted by cheers and applause.
Dixon's story caught the attention of daytime talk queen Oprah Winfrey, and he appeared on her show. The Hampton University graduate signed a free-agent contract with the Cowboys after the draft.
Mr. Moneybags
Nobody can accuse Jerry Jones of not putting his money where his heart is. The Cowboys' outspoken owner opened his wallet this offseason, doling out tens of millions of dollars in contracts and providing five Pro Bowlers with $58.9 million in signing bonuses. But the savvy businessman fully expects to get a return on his investment by having the Cowboys end their 11-year playoff victory drought.
It's not like the franchise, however, is hurting for income. The Cowboys are the country's most valuable sports franchise at $1.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine. They are in the process of building a $1 billion stadium in Arlington.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:09 AM
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